“He’s already backing out,” Topuria told reporters during media day ahead of fight night in Abu Dhabi.
“If he brawls with me, he’s already knocked out.”
Topuria’s confidence comes from his opinion that Holloway is already treating him differently to how he’d respond to a similar challenge from one of the other featherweight contenders.
If I were another type of fighter, like Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega, he’d say, ‘Of course, I’ll throw down for a few seconds. It’s no big deal.’ He says he’s running a big risk, but what risk is he running? The only thing that makes him relevant is the BMF (title), which he’s not even putting on the line.
“I’m the one that’s risking everything. I’m the one that’s putting this belt on the line. I’m the one risking it all. And even then, he doesn’t want to do it. Why? Ask him. Go slide a note under his door.”
During media day, Holloway had accused Topuria of being a copycat, suggesting that, in addition to trying to pinch his own signature move, the featherweight champion has also stolen aspects of Conor McGregor’s persona, too.
Topuria bristled at the suggestion, saying, “He doesn’t even know what to say anymore.
“Why doesn’t he talk about what we’re here to do? Which is the fight. That’s because he doesn’t see any flaws in me. He doesn’t know where to grab from.
“He knows I’m much better than him, and now he has to resort to other things, just like when Conor (McGregor) was saying I wasn’t Spanish. Because I don’t have any flaws as a fighter, and I’m much better than them, they go to that.
“But we’ll see. On Saturday, he shows up, and I’m shutting his mouth.”
